Electric switch



H. G. LAPSLEY May 9, 1933.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed sept, 50, 1930 INVENTOR /%Wf9f 6PM 5y BY MM@ ATTORNEY Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES HOWARD G. LPSLEY, 0F PLAIN FIELD, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed September 30, 1930. Serial No. 485,36.

This invention relates to an improvement in electric switches.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved switch which is adapted for great flexibility of use. Another object is to provide a switch of this character adapted1 for quick and Simple make and break action. Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved switch having the above characteristics and also the capacity to carry currents of considerable magnitude, a switchlwhich Vis substantially ireproof, and a switch which can easily be constructed to meet the requirements within a wide range ofcapacity.

The mercury switch has the general characteristics of iexibilit adaptability, and capability of being su stantially fireproof. The mercury switch is, however, limited substantially to currents of 25 amperes and 250y volts, whereas the switch of the present invention can be made to carry from two to four times the maximum limit of the mercuryswitch and still retain its characteristics of flexibility. The switch of the present invention is substantially ireproof as in the case of the mercury switch, and-the contact pressure of the electrodes may be regulated, as by the design of the switch, 3o to meet requirements farm excess of those which can be met by the mercury switch. Also, mercury has inherent limitations as a conductor, while a conductin material, such as copper, when given su cient contact area and pressure, is practically without limit. In view of the foregoing, it may be said that the switch of the present invention embodies substantiall all the merits of the mercury and in a dition, due to its much greater capacity, has a larger field of application. Other features of the invention relate tothe construction and arrangement of parts whereby the invention may be carried out in the general manner specified.

In the accompanyin drawlng illustrating preferred forms o the invention, Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary elevation of one embodiment of the invention, partly broken away to show details of'structure; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the parts in different positions; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4

is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig.

5 and illustrating another embodiment of 55 the invention; and Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

According to the preferred embodiments of the invention, provision is made of a frame carrying several groups of contacts, and of a circuit closing member supported in said frame, the relation between the circuit closing member, the frame and the supportingmeans for the circuit closing member being such that normally the circuit closing member will be out ofengagement with the groups of contacts but upon relative tilting therebetween the circuit closing member may be brought into engagement with the contacts of one of said groups to effect a corresponding circuit closing ac'- tion.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a pendulum 10 is suspended in a frame or casing 11 containing groups of contacts 12 connected with 75 insulated wires 13 extending outwardly from the casing or frame 11. As here shown, the pendulum includes a weight or bob 14 and a suspension member 15, such as a cord, attached at one end to the bob 14 and at the so other end to a fastening device 16 projecting from the lower surface of the top of the casing, and the casing, which is preferably of insulating and ireproof material such as glass, hard rubber, porcelain and bakelite, is of square cross section with the contacts or contact strips 12 arranged in pairs at the angles so that the bob 14 may wedge between the contacts of any pair and complete the corresponding circuit. In this illustrative form of the invention the casing is closed at the top and bottom as well as at the sides and may easily be made watertight. Where it is desirable-to inspect the g5 operation of the switch or to inspect the contacts, the casing material would be clear or transparent and where a lire-proof and flash-proof switch is needed, as in photographic or motion picture film rooms, the

material of the envelope or casing would be opaque.'

Closing of the gap between the contacts 12 at any one of the corners a, b, c or d (Fig. 3) may be accomplished by relative movement between the bob andthe casing. This relative movement may be elected by means of a member or rod 16 attached at its lower end to the top of the casing 11. Intermedate the ends of `the member or rod 16, it is provided with a ball 17 seated in a correspondingly shaped seat or socket at the upper end of an opening 18 through an overhanging arm 19 of a frame 2O including an ,upright 21 and a base 22. The ball 17 may be held in position in said socket by a member 23 corresponding to a packing gland and having an external screw thread lcooperating with a screw thread at the in- Vso that the casin greater extent to ring a pair of contacts into ner side of an annular flange 24 projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the arm 19. The rod 16 extends upwardly through the holding member 23 and referably is provided at its upper en d with a head in the form of a ball 25 which is adapted 'for use as a linger piece. It will be seen that the opening through the holding member 23 and the opening through the overhanging arm 19 are so shaped that the connection is substantially universal and the Yrod 16 may be swung to a considerable extent in any direction about the center of the ball 17.

By pressin the finger piece or ball 25 to t e left ig. l) the casing 11 is tilted (Fig. 2) so that the bob 14 is engaged by and wedged between the contacts at the corner a, and obviously by pressing the ball 25 in other and suitable directions the bob 14 may be caused to brid e the pair of lcontacts at any one of the ot er corners b, c or d. Thus this form of switch is of a multiplethrow type. i The capacity of the switch may be increased by varying the proportions will have to be tilted to a engagement with the bob, and also by increasing the weight of the bob.

In the second illustrative embodiment of the invention, a circuit closing member 27 is mounted in a frame or cage 28 including j a base or plate 29 which supports the member 27, a top or plate 30 which sup orts a plurality of groups of contacts 31, an members or rods 32 connecting said plates 29 and 30, which preferably are of insulating material such as glass or porcelain or micarta. Two pairs of contacts 31 are shown and they are in the form of rods or springs passing through the upper plate 30, the upper ends of these contacts being provided with binding posts and the lower ends being positioned for engagement by the -upper end of the circuit closing member 27. The circuit closing member -27 has a body portion 33 above the base 29 and a downwardly extending portion 34 in the form of a rod passing through a hole 35 in the base, the hole being just large enough at its upper end to accommodate the rod and flaring out beneath said upper end to permit the rod to be swung in different directions as desired. The body portion 33 is provided at its lower end around the upper end of the rod 34 with a spherical surface which rests on the top of the base v29 and facilitatesl the free rocking movement of the circuit closing member. At the upper end of the body portion 33 is a tubular contact portion 36 b which the actual circuit closin e'ecte It will be evident that by making the contact portion 36 tubular, the contact ortion or member can be made of considera le size without raising the center of gravity to an undue extent. In this embodimentv of the invention, the circuit closin member may` be balanced in its central an vertical position (Fig. 4) or it may be tilted to the left, as indicated in Fig. 4, to connect one pair of contacts 31 or to the right to connect the otherI air of contacts. In this form of the invention, the circuit closing member may either be on easy balance for quick and responsive control or may be operated from the lower end of the rod 34 by any suitable means acti-ngthereon. It should be noted that with the terminalsnprojecting downwardly from the top cap they are practically free from exposure to the weather, ice. sleet, dirt, etc.

Both of the illustrative embodiments of the invention have the same advantages of Athe invention.

I claim 1. In a switch, the combination of a frame having a top, a plurality of groups of spaced contacts arranged around said frame, a contact member suspended from said top for freely swinging 1n any direction from the vertical to engage the contacts oi any of said groups, and means for supporting said frame for tilting in any direction from the vertical to effect engagement of said contact member with the contacts of any selected group.

2. In a switch, the combination of a .closed casing, a plurality of oups of spaced contacts arranged aroun the interior of said casing, a contact member in said casin and suspended for freely swinging in any direction from the vertical under ravitational force to engage the contacts o an of said roups, and means for suspending t e casing rom above forswinging movement in .any direction from the vertical to effect engagement or disengagement of the contact member and the contacts of any of said rou s.

3. In a switch, the combination o a c osed casing, a plurality of groups of spaced contacts arranged around the interior of said casing, a contact member mounted in said casing for movement from a central position into engagement with the contacts of any of said groups and back again in accordance with tilting movements of said casing, a rod projecting upwardl from the top of said casing and provide at an intermediate point with a ball, and a fixed socket cooperatlng with said ball to support the casing while permitting tilting of the casing by manipulation of the portion of the rod above said ball.

4. The combination with a support, of a ball and socket joint carried by the u per part of the sup ort, a frame suspended rom said support or free swinging movement in all directions, a pendulum supported from the top of the frame for free swinging movement in all directions relative thereto and having a bob of conductive material, said pendulum being located wholly within the frame, and pairs of contacts carried by the lframe and adapted to be bridged by the bob upon relative swinging movements of the bob and frame.

5. The combination with a support, of a ball and socket joint carried by the upper part of the support and including a ball having a rigid rod projecting downwardly therefrom, a frame having its u per end rigidl mounted on said rod, a pen ulum attache ing a conductive bob, said pendulum being wholly within the frame, the pendulum and frame having unrestrained and independent swinging movements in all directions, and pairs of contacts carried by the frame in the path of said pendulum.

HOWARD G. LAPSLEY.

to the lower end of the rod and hav 

